The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally received the presidential nomination forms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for the 2027 general elections, confirming Shettima’s retention as the party’s vice presidential candidate.

The National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, received the nomination forms on Friday during a formal ceremony held at the Continental Hotel in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The forms were presented on behalf of President Tinubu by his Special Adviser on Political and Other Matters, Hon. Ibrahim Masari.

The high-profile event was attended by several key party figures and state governors, including:
Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma

Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni

Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris

Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf

Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani

Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum

Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri

Senior party leaders and stakeholders were also present at the ceremony.

The pupils and teachers abducted in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State have regained their freedom.

The development was disclosed on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

In a shared post on his verified X handle, Onanuga simply announced that the victims had been released by their abductors.

“Finally, the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been freed by their abductors,” he wrote.

As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding their release, including whether any ransom was paid or the circumstances leading to their freedom, had yet to be disclosed.

Peter Obi, the 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has sharply criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, claiming the president has not contacted Governor Seyi Makinde more than 50 days after the incident.

In a post on X on Monday titled “Worsening Leadership Crisis in the Country Now Evident,” Obi described the situation as evidence of a deepening leadership crisis, accusing the federal government of lacking compassion and effective capacity to address insecurity.

The abduction occurred on May 15, 2026, when armed gunmen attacked multiple schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, taking away dozens of pupils (including very young children) and teachers. The victims remain in captivity as of early July.

Obi said he has spoken publicly about the incident twice, including direct appeals to the kidnappers for the children’s release. He also revealed that he contacted Governor Makinde twice to express solidarity, emphasising that the tragedy is a national issue rather than one confined to Oyo State.

“The government and people of Oyo State, more than 50 days after the abduction of the schoolchildren without any tangible effort toward their rescue, should rightly feel bitter and abandoned,” Obi wrote.

On Friday, July 3, Obi visited Ibadan alongside economist Prof. Pat Utomi to meet with Governor Makinde and discuss the security situation. During the meeting, Obi shared lessons from his time as governor of Anambra State, where he managed insecurity challenges. He noted that past presidents — Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan — routinely engaged directly with state governors during major security incidents.

To his shock, Obi said Makinde informed him that President Tinubu had not reached out even once since the abduction.

“But, to my utmost shock, I discovered that, contrary to my assumption that they had been in regular communication over the matter, Governor Seyi Makinde had not received a single call from President Bola Tinubu,” Obi stated.

Obi drew parallels with the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, recalling that Tinubu, then in opposition, had criticised President Jonathan for taking more than two weeks to contact the affected governor.

The comments come amid broader concerns over recurring school abductions in parts of Nigeria, with the Oyo incident highlighting the spread of such violence to the southwest. Obi has used the episode to question the Tinubu administration’s approach to national security.

No immediate response from the presidency was reported as of Monday.